Tightener for wire fences



(No Model.)

G. TENNEY.

TIGHTENER FOR WIRE FENCES.

Patented July 24, 1888.

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ATLENT GEORGE TENNEY, OF LINCOLN, KANSAS.

TIGHTENER FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,666, dated July 24-, 1888.

Serial No. 257.107. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE TENNEY, of Lincoln, in the county of Lincoln and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tighteners for \Vire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tighteners for wire fences; and it consists in, first,the combination of a wire-tightener which is to be passed through a hole in the fencepost and which has an open-ended slot through that part which extends through the post, a locking-plate having apertures to receive the forked end of the shaft, and a locking or fastening device upon the fence-post; second, the combination of a wire-tightener composed of a rod or shaft which extends through a perforated post,and which is provided with an openended slot through that end which passes through the post, and with a beveled flange upon its head, and a locking-plate which is applied to the post to prevent the shaft from turning backward; third, the combination of a perforated fence-post with a wire-stretching device composed of a rod or shaft having an open-ended slot through that part which extends through the post, a locking-plate provided with openings to receive the ends of the prongs of the tightening device, and a strap which catches between the prongs, anda looking device on the post to prevent the plate from revolving backward, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The objects of my invention are to provide a tightener which is to be left in the post, and which by giving it a few turns can be made to tighten the wire extending beyond each of its sides, and then can be locked into position by means of a locking-plate connected thereto, and to provide a tightener with a flange which will move the barbs back out of contact with the side of the post, and thus prevent them from interfering with the tightening.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of one of the tighteners in position in a post. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, showing the lockingplate in position. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the tightener alone.

A represents the fence-post, through which is to be bored a suitable hole to receive each one of the tighteners B. This tightener consists of a rod or shaft of sufficient length to have each of its ends project beyond the side of the post, and which is provided with a longitudinal open-ended slot, 0. This open-ended slot 0 is made to straddle over the wire of the fence which is to be tightened, and the slot extends far enough toward the end to which the wrench or lever is to be applied to pass beyond the outer side of the post. Before this tightener is placed in the hole in the post made to receive it the wire is caught in the open-ended slot, and this tightener then serves to secure the wire in position upon the post without the help of any other device for this purpose.

Where barbed wires are being tightened in direct contact with the sides of the posts, the barbs catch against the edges and sides of the post, and thus interfere very materially with the process of tightening the wires. In order to move these barbs automatically out of contact with the sides of the post, 1 form upon each tightener a flange, D, which is vertical upon the side where it bears against the post, but is beveled away on its outer side. This flange serves as a stop to hold the tightenerin position against the post, and at the same time serves to force the barbs and wire out of contact with the side of the post as the tightener is revolved by the wrench or lever.

In revolving the tightener, as the wire and the barbs strike against the beveled side of the flange they slip downward toward the outer end of the tightener, and this beveled side of the flange thus acts as a lever to force them outward from the side of the post, so that the barbs will not engage therewith. All that the operator has to do, therefore, is to place the tightener in position and then revolve it.

In the inner side of each one of the prongs of the tightener is formed a shoulder, F, which acts as a stop to prevent the locking-plate G from being readily displaced and to prevent any endwise movement of the tightener. This locking-plate has a serrated edge, and has two semicircular openiugs,I,made through it upon each side of the strip J, which serves to catch between the two prongs of the tightener. The two openings correspond to the prongs of the tightener, which pass through the openings, as shown. The strip J catches behind the shoulders in the innersides of the prongs, and thus serves to prevent any endwise movement ofthc tightener. This plate may either be applied tothe tightener after the wire has been tightened in position, or it can be placed upon the tightener before the wire has been tightened, in which case it will revolve freely with the tightener while the wire is being tightened. After the tightening has taken place, a nail, pin, or stop of any kind is driven into the post between two of the serrations in the outer edge of the plate, and the plate and tightener are thus prevented from being turned backward by the tension upon the wire.

When this ti ghteneris used at a corner, where the wire will draw but one way, the post must be stationary;but when used at any point between the corners the post must not be stationary, but must yield to the drawing of the wire toward one of the corners, as the slack may be grealer toward one corner than the other. The inner end of the slotGis rounded outward at each corner, so as to form an oval depression, into which the wire passes as the crank is turned, so that the wire may not be turned so short as to break it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 7 1. The combination of the fence-post having ahole through it, with the wire-tightener cornposed of a rod or shaft having an open-ended slot through the part which extends through upon its head or outer end, and a locking-plate which is applied to the post to prevent the rod or shaft from revolving, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a perforated fencepost with a wire-stretching device composed of a rod or shaft having an open-ended slot through that part which extends through the post, a locking-plate provided with openings to receive the ends of the prongs of the tightening device, and a strip which catches be tween the prongs, and a locking device on the post to prevent the plate from revolving backward, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the tightening device provided with an open ended slot and having the shoulders Fin the inner sides ot'theprongs, with the lockingplate provided with serrations in its edge, openings to receive the ends -of the prongs of the tightener, and a strip which extends between the prongs, substantially as specified. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. GEORGE TENNEY.

Wi tnesscs:

FREELING TUFTS, THOMAS CLARK. 

